- Students' Union of Universidade do Minho (AAUM) The Students' Union of Universidade do Minho (AAUM) is run by students for students. This union which represents UMinho students was created in 1977 to answer students' needs, in a fast growing University. It was the second students’ union in the country to be considered a "public service institution". With 31 years old the Union has benefited from a structured development and it is, nowadays, one of the biggest in the country. There is one head office in Braga and another in Guimarães. The Students' Union is divided in departments: cultural, administrative, software, recreation, sports, employment, among others, and all of them try to help students in a complementary way. The AAUM continues to innovate and to create new activities. "UMplugged - Garage Bands Festival of the Minho’s University" is one example that goes in its fifth edition and that intends to discover new bands for the national musical panorama. The Students’ Union organises several events during the academic year. Besides the concerts, exhibitions, theatre and weekly cinema sessions, there are several student's music groups, two theatre groups, a modern dancing group, a folk dancing group, an academic choir, among others. The Students' Union also organises the famous Enterro da Gata Festivities which last for a whole week in May, during which there are some free days from classes. During this week a parade is organised where all the courses are represented with characteristic vehicles, decorated by the students, according to a general theme for the festivities. These vehicles pass through the streets of Braga followed by the students, in order to show the population they have completed a year of studies. There is also an annual inter-universities camping weekend, which gathers students from all Portuguese universities, and the 1st of December Festival that celebrates the reinstatement/restitution of Portuguese Independence from the Spanish governing in which all the university's groups perform. You can also spend some time at the Students’ Union Bar (Braga and Guimarães) and in its games room (pool, ping-pong, flippers, darts, among others). The "Tricórnio Shop" has at the students’ disposal the University’s traditional garment, among other university's souvenirs.

Universidade do Minho’s Radio (RUM) is an autonomous body of the Students’ Union, which broadcasts 24 hours a day. Students are free to make a programme in the radio, which can be considered as an “experimental” school for those who intend to take the first steps in this area.more information à

- Alumni Association of Universidade do Minho (AAEUM) Alumni Association of Universidade do Minho (AAEUM) was officially established in September 1989, with the main goal of representing and defending the interests of UMinho alumni. AAEUM aims at: a) keeping and reinforcing the bounds of solidarity that link the alumni; b) representing, defending and fostering the interaction with the alumni;c) contributing to the establishment of cooperation links with the Academy; d) promoting the cultural and recreational involvement of formal students; e) implementing partnership activities with the community.more information à